ABA is pleased to announce the launch of a world class training program, “Leadership Development for Front Line Professionals.” Produced in cooperation with Hearthside University, this program is designed to equip front line supervisors with leadership principles, tools, and techniques to improve quality, safety, and productivity throughout an organization.

In an effort to develop solutions to address the industry’s workforce gap, ABA’s Human Resources Committee has put emphasis on programs that focus on the recruitment, development and retention of high-potential employees — an area that is a major concern within the baking industry. In addition, data from the “Workforce Gap in U.S. Commercial Baking: Trends, Challenges and Solutions” shows that 83 percent of the industry struggles with undertrained front line supervision.

“Helping front line leaders better communicate with those they supervise is critical to retention efforts, as well as developing the next generation of leaders,” said ABA President & CEO Robb MacKie. “Having better-trained front line professionals is a step toward filling the workforce gap, a major industry initiative for 2016 and beyond.”

Covering topics from managing difficult people and situations, to successfully leading change, to tackling performance problems, this three-day Front Line Professionals course supports your organization in its quest to develop, empower, motivate, and retain current and up-and-coming associates. Utilizing an interactive, experiential learning style that allows front line leaders to put principles into practice, the first program will take place June 1-3 in the greater Chicagoland area.